When visiting the pristine halls of the Little Sisters of the Poor in San Pedro sneak a peek into some of the spotless, cozy rooms.

Clearly the aging, but cordial residents want to be there.

“My Turn” columnist Deborah Paul

When my mom passed away 15 years ago, my sister came to live with my husband and me. As it got more challenging to give her the attention she needed, we made different living arrangements for her through the years.

Kathy, recently came back to live with us with the closing of her group home in Torrance. Fortunately, I saw the writing on the wall and began researching where I could help settle my dear one and alleviate the worry in each of our lives.

All Kathy needs is a little supervision, and does quite well even with severe hearing loss and the usual changes that accompany aging.

So, I began writing letters to Little Sisters of the Poor to see if Kathy would be a good fit, knowing there is usually a waiting list at the 100-bed facility.

On June 1, my sister was accepted into Little Sisters of the Poor. She has a lovely room, more new friends and activities than she can count, and is finally getting used to the security and freedom to be herself she has lacked the last decade. She lives three minutes away from me.

And my heart is bursting with appreciation about what these people do for our community.

On Sept. 8, Little Sisters of the Poor invites the public to help celebrate its 150th anniversary during the Make It a Habit Gala fundraiser at the dazzling, redeveloped Rolling Hills Country Club.

The evening will offer an 8-day, 7-night Royal Lahaina resort raffle, plus numerous live auction items including elegant dining packages at gorgeous homes, a dinner, limo and gift certificate for the Palos Verdes Performing Arts Norris Theatre, luncheon for four at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica, a 3-nite New Orleans Experience with airfare, tickets to Elton John’s Farewell Concert, catering for 50 at Stonefire Grill, Rolling Hills Country Club golf package, Lakers game tickets, and more.

Proceeds benefit Little Sisters of the Poor, Jeanne Jugan Residence on Western Avenue in San Pedro.

This benevolent organization began in France in 1839 by Jeanne Jugan, a kindly women who opened her home to an elderly, blind and paralyzed woman in need.

Noted in the Little Sisters archives, a great wave of charity inspired by Jugan spread all over the world, reaching America on Sept. 13, 1868 when seven Little Sisters arrived in Brooklyn, New York after a long ocean voyage to establish the community’s first home in America.

Since that time the Little Sisters minister to the elderly in 27 homes across America.

The Los Angeles-based Little Sisters of the Poor relocated to San Pedro after refurbishing the Fermin Lasuen High School where they established the home in 1979.

Housed in its walls are three levels of loving care for the elderly.

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To that end, the Little Sisters have chosen their “sesquicentennial year as a time of reflection, recommitment and strategic planning for the next 150 years.” They have dubbed their fundraising initiative Quickening the Flame, recognizing the unprecedented change in the field of elder care.

The mission statement of Little Sisters of the Poor moved to me to tears: “Our mission is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to Himself.”

And that’s what they are doing for my Kathy.

The white clad Little Sisters with all their varied and gregarious personalities, big hearted volunteers and dedicated staff have not only embraced the uniqueness of my sister with open arms, they’ve made me a part of their family, too, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Make It A Habit Gala

Saturday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.

Rolling Hills Country Club

1 Chandler Ranch Road

Rolling Hills Estates, CA

Cost is $175 per person

Call: 310-548-0625

Visit: littlesistersofthepoorsanpedro.org

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Tom Bray is senior editor of Southern California's Los Angeles County properties, as well as managing editor for news content. Bray has been a journalist since he started covering high school sports in 1975. He's served as a reporter, copy editor, section editor and page designer. Bray was managing editor at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, the News-Leader in Springfield, Mo, the Sun in San Bernardino and the Times-Delta in Visalia, Calif.